Sheetsxsheet i



June 17, 1952 R. E. JAMISON, JR

FIRE HELMET HAVING RETRACTIBLE TRANSPARENT VISOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1947 M 1T. A mm w .4. mm 5 J E w w M R vw Ju 17, 1952 R. E. JAMISON, JR

FIRE HELMET HAVING RETRACTIBLE TRANSPARENT VISOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1947 Roger E Jamison, Jr.

INVENTOR views, attention is directed first to the embodiment of Figures 1-5 wherein the principles are shown applied to, but are not limited to a conventional form of fire helmet which may be formed of a molded or plastic composition.

In this form of the invention, the numeral l indicates the crown and the numeral I2 the brim of a fire helmet-of any known and conventional design. The plastic or molded composition of this helmet is provided with the customary wire or other reinforcing element l4 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

If desired, a detachable insignia plate [6 may be recessed into the front outer surface of the helmet as indicated clearly in Figures 1 and 3, this insignia plate being detachably secured thereto as by fastening screws 18. Further, the brim of the helmet l 2 may be provided with rings 20 secured to brackets 22 for the conventional helmet hangers, if the same are deemed to be expedient.

In accordance with the dictates of this invention, the inner surface 24, of the helmet and which is of conventional contour, is provided upon its front wall with a circumferentially extending recess 26 extending from the brim edge of the inner surface of the crown to a position terminating adjacent the top of the crown as shown in Figure 3. This recess is provided with a preferably metallic shield or cover plate 28 which is likewise recessed into the inner surface 24 of the crown to provide a flush continuation thereof, this shield extending peripherally of the crown and being appropriately curved and contoured to conform to the inner surface of a conventional crown of a fire helmet.

The shield 28 is preferably detachably secured to the inner surface of the crown as by a plurality of fastening screws 30, and the lower edge of this shield terminates in substantially the same plane as the lower surface of the brim l2, and is forwardly curved or turned as at 32. This shield 28 is preferably of inexpensive and light weight material such as sheet metal, or the like, although the same may be constructed of fibre, or any other equivalent materials as desired. On the outermost wall of the cavity 26, there is embedded therein or secured thereto and extending inwardly therefrom, a combined packing and stop strip 34, of resilient compressible material such as felt or the like. In order to illustrate the principles of the invention this strip is shown as comprising a narrow band extending circumferentially of the outermost wall of the cavity 26, and adjacent the lower edge thereof; but it will be understood that the principles of the invention are not limited thereto, and this packing element may be formed by a plurality of resilient, compressible members projecting inwardly into the cavity from the outermost wall thereof, secured thereto in any desired manner, and positioned at any desired location thereon. In any event, the function of this strip is to preserve and maintain a constant resilient pressure against the outer surface of a retractible transparent visor 35 which is slidably housed in the recess 26, between its fully retracted position shown in full lines in Figure 3 and its fully extended position shown in dotted lines therein. As will be seen clearly from Figures 3 and 4, as well as the perspective view of Figure 5, the visor is of a transparent durable material such as Plexiglas which is bowed or arcuately curved between its two side edges and is preferably slightly curved or bowed from its top to its bottom, in

order that the same may be conveniently housed within the correspondingly shaped recess 26.

As shown best in Figures 3 and 5, the upper edge of the Plexiglas visor 36 is provided with a forwardly turned arcuate projection or flange 38 which is adapted to slide upon the outermost surface of the cavity or recess 28, in guided relation thereon, and to abut or engage the packing strip 34, to constitute a stop means for limiting the extended position of the visor. This flange or projection 38 may be a continuous lateral projection, or may be constituted by one or more smaller projections; may be integrally formed upon the visor 36 or may be separately applied thereto; and although preferably at the upper edge thereof could be positioned at any other convenient location thereon.

Atits lower edge, the visor 36 is preferably provided with a forwardly extending flange or projection 40 constituting a finger grip portion by means of which the visor is raised or lowered. Furthermore, the two projections or flanges 33 and 40 provide stiffening means for strengthening and imparting rigidity to the flexible transparent material of the visor.

At any convenient position upon the visor, but preferably adjacent the upper end portion, there are provided one or more cut-away portions'42 constituting recesses, grooves or slots which are engageable by resilient inwardly disposed finger portions 44 which are mechanically attached to or may be integrally formed upon the innermost surface of the cavity 26, provided by the shield or cover plate 28.

The normal bias-ofthe spring finger 44 yieldingly and detachably urges the same into engagement with the recesses or apertures 42, for retaining the visor in its upper or retracted position; although in some instances it will be found sufficient to provide roughened portions, projections or the like upon the adjacent surface of the upper portion of the visor for engagement by the spring fingers, and even in certain occasions the mere frictional engagement of the fingers with the smooth surface of the visor will be sufficient to effect the desired purposes.

Of course, the resilient fingers 44 may be secured in any desired manner to the convex surface of the shield 28, as by riveting, bolts, or if desired by being fashioned by tongues 46 struck from the shield surface as indicated in the embodiment of Figure 6.

Secured in any suitable manner to the convex surface of the shield 28, is a layer or coating of resilient, compressible material, such as felt or sponge rubber or the like, indicated at 48 and. which is preferably of progressively increasing thickness from its top to its lower end. This coating 48 is secured in any suitable manner as by an adhesive coating, by having projections imbedded in the shield 28 or in any desired manner, and has its lower end resting upon the previously mentioned forwardly curved portion 32 of the shield, which latter portion serves to stiffen, position and retain the enlarged or thickenecl lower edge of the flexible packing. The arrangement is such that the two packing members 34 and 48 resiliently press against the visor from the front and rear sides thereof, to impart a desired frictional drag upon the same which assists in maintaining the visor in its upper or lower positions, and in some instances would be sufiicient to retain the visor in intermediate positions.

These two packing members further serve to and cleansing action'o'nthe visor asthe same "is "raised or lowered. This latter jfunction is particularly useful in order to remove smoke; water or dirt which might serve to obscure the transparency of the visorduring use.

As "shown moreclearly in the enlargedview-df Figure 4, it will be seen that' the "flexible packing member 4 8 is providedat its lat'enal" ec'ige's with inwardly turned *flanges 50 which constitute channel members for embracing the ver ti-zz'al edges of the visor. Thes'e'ch annel-edges as seen in this figure are disposed circumferentially spaced relation to the end ofjthe fe'lt or sponge rubber stop strip and serve-to further lcushion,

irictionally retain and guide the visor "throughout all-positionsof its movemerit.

"In order to further impi ove the comfortand hence the efficiency 0f the helmet Jdurin'g prolonged use, there is provided a detach'a'lcile cus'hioning annulus indicated "generally 'the numetal 52 and which is snugly received in the intericr surface 24 of the helmet Withits lower edge i cut terminus with the lower surface-10f the helmet brim 12. This annulus consists preferably of a resilient, compressible core of sponge rubber or the like 54 "which is (of progressively increasing thickness "from its upper "to rits lower edge, and which is encased 'by a thin fabric sheet or other flexible or bendable strip of material indicated at '56. 'This'encasing member :56 ;is pref erably of very thin and flexible rnate'riaL. and

serves to confine and retain the'eirtremely flexible and compressible core-54 inthe desired shape and further-serves to "mount the same :in a "detachable manner in the helmet. shown in Figure 4, the outermost surface of the For this ipunpose, as

cushioning "annulus =52 is provided with :three 1 or more outwardly extending pegs, pins or projections 58 which are engageably and detachably received in corresponding sockets 60 rappropriately positioned in the inner surface 24 of the helmet. In applying the cushioning membera it -is merely necessary to fiex the annulus i2 slightly inwardly at -the-securing projections, and thus insert the cushioning member inside the helmet;

whereupon the resiliency of the cushioning annulus will serve to 'seat and retain the securing pins or projections 58 in the recesses 60. The removal of the cushioning annulus is effected in the reverse manner.

It will thus beseen "thatinthis embodiment of the invention there is provi-ded'afiremans"helmet having its internal surface of the conventional contour and dimensions, and yet provided with an inexpensive and satisfactory retractible'visor seated therein for effecting theipurposesdesired.

Attention is now directed more specifically to the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 6. The principles of theinvention in this embodiment are the same 'as those set forth above. However, in this instance there is' disclosed a conventional type of fi'remans h'e'lmet having a fabricated metal crown of hollow, sheet metal construction indicated at 10, and which if desired may be provided upon its front portion with a detachable or a permanently attached insignia plate 12.

In accordance with this invention, the forward portion of the inner surface 14 is depressed or recessed forwardly as shown in Figure 6, in any suitable manner such as by a die or the like, for providing a visor receiving cavity or recess 16.

of the visor.

cavity and is provided at "its upper end with? a forwar'dly extending stop-'fiang'e dd and with-suitable recesses, apertures or projections engageable resiliently and. detacha'hly by the integral for- Wardly extending spring fing'ers 46 which are punched or struck forwardly from the sheet metal cover plate 1 3. The convexsurface o f the plate 10 is provided with a flexible-resilient layer or lining of felt or s onge rub'ber, '86 which resiliently pressescforwardly against the .rear 'surface The construction of the visor, of the cavity, and of "the resilient stop "strip not shown, and sealing strip'or layer 586 -is identical with that set'forthinthe preceding'embodiment. The msential :difierence of thisembodiment re- .sides intheifact that the'inve'ntionsis applied to 'a sheet metal helmet rather than to a molded :or plastic helmet, and that the conventional type of helmet is then provided with a :cavity formed therein and a cover plate, "recessed flush *with the interior surface of the helmet for closing the cavity and for retaining the visor "and'associated parts Within-the'cavity.

From the foregoing, the principles, operation and advantages -'of the device will be rreadily understood'and. accordingly further explanation is ,believedto be unnecessary.

However, since gnumerous modifications .and

-equivalents,:falling Within the spiritof the invention will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and annexed drawings, it is not inasnew is:

1. -A protective helmet including acrown 'having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein closed from the interior of the crown and opening through the lower edge of said front wall portion, said chamber ibeing curved both horizontally :and vertically of the .frontwallportion, said'chamberaha'ving a forward and a rear wall, a transparent visor .slidably 'mounted upon said helmet and retractible into i said chamber, fastening means within said chainber on 'said rearwall-at the'supper end thereof and engagedwith the visor "in the retracted position of the visor toretain the :latter retracted in the "chamber andl'normally released from thevisor in other than the retracted position .of the visor.

2. A protective helmet including ?a crown havin'ga front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein closed from the interior of "the cr'own -an'd opening through the lower edge of said front wall -portion, a transparent visor slidably mounted upon 'said helmet and :'re-' trac'tihle into said chamber, means wholly within said chamber limiting sliding movement of said visor inwardly and outwardly of said chamber, said means including a fastener mounted upon the wall of the chamber, said visor having means engaged by said fastener in the raised position of the visor.

3. A protective helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein closed from the interior of the crown and opening through the lower edge of said front wall portion, a transparent visor slidably mounted upon said helmet and retractible into said chamber, fastening means within said chamber engaged with the visor in the retracted position of the visor to retain the latter retracted in the chamber and normally released from the visor in other than the retracted position of the visor, said fastening means including a detent within the chamber, said visor having a recess receiving said detent in the retracted position of the visor.

4. A helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein open at the bottom edge of the portion and closed from the interior of the crown, a visor mounted in said chamber for sliding movement into lowered and retracted positions, packing means mounted upon a wall of said chamber adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall portion and slidably engaging the visor in all of its positions during movement of the visor, stop means on said visor within the chamber engageable with said packing means to thereby limit movement of the visor in its lowered position.

5. A helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein open at the bottom edge of the portion and closed from the interior of the crown, a visor mounted in said chamber for sliding movement into lowered and retracted positions, packing means mounted upon a wall of said chamber adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall portion and slidably engaging the visor in all of its positions during movement of the visor, stop means on said visor within the chamber engageable with said packing means to thereby limit movement of the visor in its lowered position, a plate secured to said crown and separating the chamber from the interior of said crown and guidingly engaging the visor during its sliding movement. 7

6. A helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein open at the bottom edge of the portion and closed from the interior of the crown, a visor mounted in said chamber for sliding movement into lowered and retracted positions, packing means mounted upon a wall of said chamber adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall portion and slidably engaging the visor in all of its positions during movement of the visor, stop means on said visor within the chamber engageable with said packing means to thereby limit movement of the visor in its lowered position, a plate secured to said crown and separating the chamber from the interior of said crown and guidingly engaging the visor during its sliding movement, resilient fastener means on said plate disposed within said chamber and engageable with said visor in the retracted position of the latter.

7. A helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having a chamber therein open at the bottom edge of the portion and closed from the interior of the crown, a visor mounted in said chamber for sliding movement into lowered and retracted positions, packing means mounted upon a wall of said chamber adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall portion and slidably engaging the visor in all of its positions during movement of the visor, stop means on said visor within the chamber engageable with said packing means to thereby limit movement of the visor in its lowered position, a plate secured to said crown and separating the chamber from the interior of said crown and guidingly engaging the visor during its sliding movement, resilient fastener means on said plate disposed within said chamber and engageable with said visor in the retracted position of the latter, said visor having an aperture in its upper portion engaging said resilient fastener means in the visors retracted position.

8. A protective helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having therein a chamber with forward and rear walls, said forward and rear walls curving both horizontally and vertically with respect to the front wall portion, a transparent visor having substantially the same curvature as said forward and rear walls and being slidably mounted upon said helmet and retractible into said chamber, a flange extending transversely of the visor at the upper edge thereof and comprising a stop limiting inward and outward sliding movement of the visor relative to said chamber.

9. A protective helmet including a crown having a front wall portion, said front wall portion having therein a chamber with forward and rear walls, said forward and rear walls curving both horizontally and vertically with respect to the front wall portion, a transparent visor having substantially the same curvature as said forward and rear walls and being slidably mounted upon said helmet and retractible into said chamber, a flange extending transversely of the visor at the upper edge thereof and comprising a stop limiting inward and outward sliding movement of the visor relative to said chamber, a resilient fastener in said chamber mounted upon the rear wall, said visor having a portion releasably engageable by said fastener for retaining the visor in retracted position in said chamber, said last mentioned portion and said fastener being positioned out of engagement with each other in all but the fully retracted position of the visor.

ROGER E. JAMISON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

